PdV still in the dark over Butch
1 Sep 2010
GRANT BALL writes that Peter de Villiers’ refusal to hand Butch James a decent amount of game-time in his preferred position defeated the point of picking him.
James was ruled out of the Boks’ final Tri-Nations fixture with a shoulder injury, but it’s not clear how long he’ll be out for. That concludes an international season where there was little planning for the Bath flyhalf, who started his only Test of the year at inside centre and was used sparingly at No 10.
De Villiers may not have been sure of how to use him effectively off the bench – also a trend with other players throughout the De Villiers tenure – but some senior players wanted him in the squad, with reports suggesting they pushed for James to start ahead of Morne Steyn at Loftus.
That was all on the back of a season where he was in the Bok 22 in seven Tests, but started just one – in his unfavoured position of inside centre. He played a total of 138 minutes out of a possible 560, 52 of which were at No 12 against Italy in Witbank. He played just 49 minutes out of a possible 400 in the Tri-Nations in three cameos off the bench, while he wasn’t used off the wood in Wellington and at Soccer City.
These figures could be understandable if Steyn was on similar match-winning form as last year, but De Villiers didn’t have the courage or conviction to make any brave calls regarding James and Steyn. If James was so highly valued to be one of just a few overseas-based Boks in the squad, why not give him a chance to start in a Tri-Nations Test? That would have provided some evidence to finding out whether James still has it in him to start in a World Cup fixture in a year.
With the Tri-Nations title lost by the time the Boks returned home, the opportunity was there to experiment and rest over-played individuals, one of whom is Steyn. That never occurred and De Villiers said James understood the situation, but what else was the player supposed to say. Earlier in the international window during the Italian series, De Villiers already said Steyn needed a rest, but then continued to play him.
When James did get a chance to play at flyhalf, the Boks immediately looked more dangerous with ball in hand (think of the eight minutes he and Jean de Villiers formed the 10-12 combination in Auckland). He also showed his defensive ability in the closing stages at Loftus, and while he’s a vastly different alternative to Steyn, he can add value to a Bok squad.
As is the case with Frans Steyn – but for different reasons – there hasn’t been a 2010 plan with James, and therefore his potential hasn’t been maximised.
The question is what does the future hold for James? De Villiers has no grounds, barring injury, not to select him for the Grand Slam tour as he hasn’t done anything wrong, and neither has he had sufficient time to excel.
De Villiers said after the Loftus win that Steyn had been grossly over-played already this year. Selecting him for the year-end tour would be counter-productive, especially when De Villiers has players such as James and Pat Lambie at his disposal.
Whether James is good enough – and I believe he is – to be in the national squad should have been answered by now. But with De Villiers not granting him decent opportunities, the topic is still up for debate.
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88 Comments
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1 Sep 2010, 09:29 am
@gunther(gunther)-39: rocketman is rokocoko…
1 Sep 2010, 09:33 am
@gunther(gunther)-50: ooooohhhhhh!!!
1 Sep 2010, 09:44 am
Transie@ 51
It’s a musical reference.
Jantjes mother was clearly an Elton John fan…
1 Sep 2010, 09:47 am
MS was the flyhalf of the team that scored the most tries in the S14. And that with, if you believe the **** that’s written on this site, with donkeys like WO and Kirchner on his outside.
We need to have a reliable goalkicker. With that I mean someone who has consistently over the coarse of a season kicked well. Not someone who occasionally kicks long kicks. And someone who can drop kick. Do not underestimate MS’s ability to clinch matches with drop kicks. It will be an important skill in the WC.
Having said that MS should be rested and Butch should be the flyhalf on the EOY tour but to make him first choice flyhalf in the WC without another reliable goalkicker (and ‘drop-kicker’) in the side could cost us dearly.
1 Sep 2010, 09:50 am
@diewareouboet(diewareouboet)-54: I cant agree more with that statement.
The future at 10 is Elton Jantjies and Lambie, though. They will have to spend some time with Vlokkie or Percy, though.
For now, MS is the best we’ve got, and he suits the gameplan superbly.
1 Sep 2010, 09:56 am
@diewareouboet(diewareouboet)-54:ja against the highlanders, most well drilled teams score a lot of tries! How many tries has WO scored in Test rugby?
1 Sep 2010, 09:58 am
Piet Devilluars can really be a controversial one..
Preaches how players need rest then when tri-Nations lost and over And Senior Players call for changes he ignores them, must be that terrible ego of his always getting in the way..
1 Sep 2010, 10:00 am
His ego far exceeds his technical/coaching ability!
1 Sep 2010, 10:01 am
@diewareouboet(diewareouboet)-54: nobody is saying morne should be dropped! We’re looking at a complete Bok 22…what do we do if MS is injured at the world cup? The next thing people will be accusing the coaching staff of lacking foresight and not identifying a backup that can equally slot in and do the job…
the all blacks are playing cruden & slade in 2 weeks time ie searching for answers but our coaching staff want to play our first team to the fround because apprently the ‘fans’ demand it! Stupid if you ask me
1 Sep 2010, 10:02 am
@gunther(gunther)-53: Correct. And she knew he was going to be a kicking flyhalf rather than a running one, and that tries would be few and far between. Hence the following line: “And I think it’s gonna be a long long time till touch down brings me round again…”
1 Sep 2010, 10:04 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-56: You’re missing the point. I think we’re all in agreement re:WO.
The point that was made is that MS CAN create tries, if the S14 is anything to go by, as he was the FH of the team that scored MOST tries in the comp. They scored most tries, despite having WO on his outside. Imagine how many more they would have scored if they had JdV or JdJ at 12.
1 Sep 2010, 10:08 am
@Guns(Guns)-58: quite right, he is so egotistical that he was fuming when wp re-called their defence coach after he had asked him to help with tweaking the springbok defence. I don’t know why Os agreed to work with such an egomaniac, Os must be mal
1 Sep 2010, 10:10 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-59: Elton Jantjies and Lambie should be the 2 FH’s taken on tour. They can be those complete FH’s you’re talking about. Jantjies has more talent IMO, and playing with Carlos can make him the most devastating FH in SA. That some time in the future, though. Iamgine this backiline post 2011.
9: Hougaard
10: Jantjies
11: Shadow
12: Lambie
13: Watermeyer
14: Mapoe
15: F. Steyn
Exciting times
1 Sep 2010, 10:13 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-61: no, you are missing the point…super rugby is not TEST rugby…Ms couldn’t create tries against France last year, he was dismal against ireland and kicked everything even when it was apparent even to a fool that rob kearney was gobbling upn everything and running it back at us with gusto! Morne & Fdp kiked and chased us to defeat!
Between the 2 of them they couldn’t switch it up and release our centres, they only did that when there was no time left on the clock!
1 Sep 2010, 10:16 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-61: plus the fact that the blue bulls scored more tries than both the crusaders and reds doesn’t mean morne is far more dynamic than both carter & cooper…
1 Sep 2010, 10:17 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-59: I agree with what you say in terms of that we need a back up for MS. For the trinations though I believe we should select our best. There is still a lot at stake ito the Mandela cup (equal to Bledisloe cup).
1 Sep 2010, 10:22 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-8: I agree Transie, it was amazing he made it through a WC.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Butch but I don’t think he’s the answer anymore and he is very injury prone.
And for the statement that the some senoir players want him to start, I think that rumour started at the same place as the John Smit will retire after his 100th cap.
1 Sep 2010, 10:25 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-63:
yeah i like the look of that backline though i’d have Basson before Hurdles… And still, there’s Mjekevu, JJ Engelbrecht, Mvovo, Killian
1 Sep 2010, 10:29 am
Butch, in my mind, is the still our best flyhalf. Im not a big fan of Steyn, Yes he has a brilliant boot, but has done nothing to prove he is a better all round player than Butch. You hardly see him on defense and when you do, its a 50/50 that he will miss the tackles. He has two of the best centres in the world along side him and he cant get them away and moving. He plays way to deep and does to much meaningless kicking. I know alot of you dnt agree. But Butch, plays flat and attacks the gain line, gets the backs moving, and on defence he is brilliant, and everyone thats saying he is a card risk…How many, including for Bath, cards did he get in the past 3 to 4 years. Not many. You also forgetting he was the flyhalf that steered us to world cup victory. Morne cant be mentioned in the same league as Butch. Cos Butch goes in the league, with greats like, Stransky, Larkham, Wilkinson. an even higher league than Carter is, Carter doesnt have a world cup medal, and neither does Steyn! Just give butch his fair chance, and next year he will take us to world cup glory again!!
1 Sep 2010, 10:33 am
@JA-JA(JA-JA)-67: certainly…i have nothing against butch, he’s been a good servant of bok rugby but he only went to the world cup because our flyhalf cupboard was BARE!!! Andre Petoroos was having bum problems, Jaco vd Westhuyzen was pure kak, i can’t even remember what was up with Liefling then Jake pulled a rabbit out the hat and selected Meyer Bosman but subsequently chickened out after the 49-0 debacle and fell on to Butch who hadn’t been in the Springbok frame for YEARS
1 Sep 2010, 10:36 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-63: I would rather have de Jongh at 13 than Watermeyer.
1 Sep 2010, 10:38 am
@iori Yagami(iori Yagami)-71: I think Watermeyer is better suited to the 12 role. Also watch Marcel Brache become a great prospect at 13.
1 Sep 2010, 10:41 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-70: I’m 100% with you on that, Butch is a legend but people hoping he can play 10 games in a row is building castles in the sky. The man is broken and it’s clear to see.
1 Sep 2010, 10:42 am
This is a typical report England re Butchie
Butch James facing nine months
out with knee injury
Bath Rugby fly-half Butch James is expected
to be out of the game for nine months after
a scan on his injured knee yesterday
confirmed the South African ’s worst fears.
James limped off at half-time during Bath’s
15-14 win Guinness Premiership victory
?over Newcastle Falcons on Sunday, sparking
fears that the World Cup-winning Springbok
had yet again been hit by the knee trouble
that has plagued his career.
A damaged anterior cruciate ligament will
require surgery – although James has
vowed to return to rugby.
Bath today released a statement, which
read: “Butch will be raring to get back onto
the pitch for his team when he is fighting fit
and will be eager to put his shirt back on
when that time comes.”
And head coach Steve Meehan paid tribute
to the No 10, who returned from the Tri-
Nations last summer to play a major role in
Bath’s challenge for honours this term.
“Butch started 20 Guinness Premiership
matches for us this year and seven
Heineken Cup matches. He has played more
minutes than anyone else for Bath and has
done a bloody good job,” said Meehan.
James played for the Natal Sharks in his
native South Africa before signing for Bath
in 2007 but his career with the Durban-
based Super 14 side and the Springboks
was hampered by injury.
In 2002 his appearances were restricted
following knee surgery but in 2004 he
played in every game for the Sharks and
looked certain to be recalled to the national
squad until an injury to the cruciate
ligament of his left knee, 12 minutes into
the last game against the Stormers, ended
his season and kept him out of rugby for
six months.
1 Sep 2010, 10:51 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-70: Transie, even Jake White had to eat his words about Butch. He wanted Andre as his flyhalf for the World Cup but realised during the WC after Eddies infuence on Butch just how good Butch was and why the senior players rated him so much. It must be admitted that Butch’s game improved significantly after Eddie Jones’ input. Up until then Butch was more renowned for his no arms tackling and abrasiveness than for his rugby brain.
1 Sep 2010, 10:53 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-65: If the Boks can execute the gameplan as effectively as the Bulls did, he could be better…. but yes, I see your point. I would love to have one of those guys in my team.
1 Sep 2010, 10:55 am
Katman
Superb
1 Sep 2010, 10:59 am
@gunther(gunther)-77: Yes, top marks Katman.
1 Sep 2010, 11:03 am
I’ve just read on rugby365 that PdV will be called in by SARU regading his statement that the Boks back Bees Roux in the alleged murder case.
Shame, the guy cant get a break!
1 Sep 2010, 11:04 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-75: i must admit, this mythical exponential improvement by Butch after EJ’s influence is just that, a myth to me. But hey, Pdv is the man in the pound seats if he slelects Butch, it’s his arse for the grill.
1 Sep 2010, 11:09 am
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-79: yep, now he will be fired!
1 Sep 2010, 11:24 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-81: Nah…. I cant understand why he’s in trouble. He said that they dont support the act, but the colleague. He should have kept his mouth shut rather. I feel for the guy….eish…. had the pleasure of meeting him last year. Very appraochable guy.
1 Sep 2010, 11:57 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-74: what you fail to mention is that he played a full two years of rugby prior to that. This is a more typical report
:
‘Butch James of Bath holds the Guinness Man of the Match award during the Guinness Premiership match between Leicester Tigers and Bath’
It’s irrelevant now tho, Meyer will be your new coach and Derick Hougaard will play 10
1 Sep 2010, 13:53 pm
@Victor4CAPTAIN(UnbeataBULL)-63:
More like:IMO
9.Hougaard
10.Jantjes/Lambie
11.JPP (only 23)
12.F.Steyn
13.De Jongh
14.Mapoe
15.Basson
1 Sep 2010, 14:41 pm
People amaze me. Why would you not want to take Butch James to a world cup. He is certainly the second best flyhalf in the country and has won a world cup.
Hypothetical question. If Morne Stey gets injured during the world cup next year, who would set your mind at ease more when coming into the side? Jantjes? JLP? Lambie? Or someone who actually has a world cup and proved on saturday he still is hungry and a bloody good player.
Give me a effing break.
1 Sep 2010, 15:01 pm
@John Galt(John Galt)-85: agree with you John
1 Sep 2010, 15:03 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-65: DUDE YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RUGBY
1 Sep 2010, 17:32 pm
@Spieeeees(Spieeeees)-87: you don’t have to get emotional..bring forth your views
hahahaha
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